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New Blackboard Learn for Apple iPhone Lets Users Take Learning on the Go

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Building on its efforts to engage students and learners in a more personalized learning experience, Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB: 31.68, 0, 0%) today announced the release of a free application that lets users of the Apple(R: 28.26, 0, 0%) iPhone(TM: 65.48, 0, 0%) and iPod touch(R: 28.26, 0, 0%) take learning on the go by accessing course information wherever and whenever they prefer.
With the application, millions of students and learners accustomed to logging in to their institution's Blackboard(R: 28.26, 0, 0%) platform every day can now tap in to mobile learning opportunities by receiving updates and alerts on grades, assignments, tests and other information from courses as well as groups and organizations of which they are part on their iPhone or iPod touch.
"Many students and learners today live in a mobile world, and now they can learn in one too," said Michael L. Chasen, president and CEO of Blackboard. "This application is part of our focus to help students more deeply engage in the educational experience by creating learning opportunities that are not bound by time or place."
Mobile learning has drawn the attention of administrators and educators as handheld devices, PDAs and smart phones have become increasingly popular in educational settings and among young people. The Blackboard Learn(TM: 65.48, 0, 0%) for Apple iPhone application is available as a download from the Apple iTunes(R: 28.26, 0, 0%) App Store and makes mobile learning a reality by linking course information to devices that are quickly becoming commonplace in high school hallways, on college campuses and in the workplace.
The application follows the earlier release of Blackboard's popular integration for the Facebook(R: 28.26, 0, 0%) platform, which enables users to access academic information within the Facebook interface and opens the door to social learning and networking opportunities.
Like the integration for the Facebook platform, Blackboard Learn for the iPhone and iPod touch is open to users at any of the thousands of K-12, higher education, and professional, corporate and government organizations that work with Blackboard worldwide, and is central to the Company's effort to help those institutions better meet the needs of learners and promote higher achievement through greater engagement.
"The application is great for quickly checking Blackboard on the go, and it helps me be more engaged and organized even if I'm away from campus," said Nate Schumacher, a freshman at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan who participated in the Beta program for the application. "With Blackboard on my iPod touch, I'm checking more often for new grades and updates the same way I check my email. Because it's so accessible, I can see my progress instantly and get feedback from professors on how I'm doing, so it helps make me a better student. This application has great potential. I would definitely recommend it to other students."
Students and learners can freely download applications for the iPhone and iPod touch and the Facebook platform, while institutions and organizations have the ability to provide greater support for the applications, limit access to certain kinds of information, or block the applications entirely. In order to protect sensitive information, each student and learner receives information from only the courses in which he or she is registered.
For more information about Blackboard, please visit http://www.blackboard.com.
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB: 31.68, 0, 0%) is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2009 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of March 26, 2009. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to March 26, 2009.